The starting gun has been fired on the election and everyone is getting ready to go to the polls.

Many people in Murrumba recently took the opportunity to enrol to vote, or update their details on the electoral roll.

If you haven’t enrolled, or have moved recently, there is still time to ensure you are eligible to vote in the upcoming State election. Just log onto www.aec.gov.au and they will take care of the rest.

Voting has changed for state elections to a full preferential system. That means voters have to number every box on the ballot paper, starting with a 1. Otherwise your vote could be deemed informal and may not be counted.

There’s 14 places in or near Murrumba where you can cast your vote on polling day, and the full list of places you can vote is here.

You can also cast your ballot before election day on 25 November. Anyone can vote early – no special reason is needed!

The nearest pre-poll centres for Murrumba residents are at: Unit 10, 3-5 High Street, Kippa-Ring; 6/379 Morayfield Road, Morayfield, and Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide Street. The full list is available here.

Being in Murrumba is really a return to my roots for me, and I’m enjoying being here and working hard to deliver for this area.

I’m pleased that the new electoral boundary has all of Dakabin and Kallangur, because keeping these communities together is important. In the meantime, my campaign is focused on making sure our schools have the resources they need, we get the public transport upgrades we want, and that we generate local jobs. So, if you see a crowd of people wearing red T-shirts, come and say ‘hi’ when we’re out and about door-knocking with the Team Miles crew. We’re always up for a chat.

Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you need any assistance or information about the upcoming election. The Murrumba campaign office is at 1/438 Anzac Avenue, Kallangur – and you can reach us on (0431) 709805 or steven.miles@queenslandlabor.org

I want to live in a Queensland that protect our wildlife habitat, our iconic reef and our climate. Right now landclearing is the greatest threat to those things in our state.

As Environment Minister, I was proud to join the Premier and Deputy Premier to launch our plan to end deforestation and protect our precious wildlife habitat.

A re-elected Labor Government will end broadscale tree clearing to drive down excessive clearing rates —and invest in a new land management industry.

We will reintroduce effective legislation and establish a $500 million Land Restoration Fund. This fund will kick start a new land management industry which promises to contribute as much as $8 billion annually to the Queensland economy by 2030.

The Land Restoration Fund, like the Commonwealth’s Emissions Reduction Fund, rewards Queensland landholders and primary producers for reducing emissions.

We will support projects that sequester carbon, restore valuable habitat, repair riparian vegetation and improve water quality.

This is a clear plan for the future. Not like the short-sighted, self-interested actions of the former Newman-Nicholls LNP government, who tore up Labor's sensible landclearing laws so that Queensland is now the only global deforestation hotspot in a developed country.

Key planks to a re-elected Palaszczuk Government achieving its environmental targets include:

Establishing a flagship $500 million Land Restoration Fund to directly support Queensland-based land sector carbon projects, creating new jobs and opportunities

Improved public transport facilities is something I am very passionate about, and have worked hard to deliver in our vibrant, growing community of Murrumba.

I’m delighted residents who catch the train from Dakabin will soon benefit from more parking, better accessibility, and security upgrades at the station.

There are 7,339 people using the station each week, and that number is rising steadily.

That’s why I have acted to ensure our local infrastructure keeps pace with our growth.

This $30 million upgrade will support around 250 jobs for Queenslanders in trades such as carpentry, electrical, painting, plumbing, labouring, roofing, glazing and traffic control—which is a great win for the local economy.

Over the last few months, I’ve talked to so many people who told me it was the number one thing they wanted fixed.

While you might not see any shovel work just yet, the design and engineering work will start immediately.

And when the concept designs are released next year, I’ll invite the QR community engagement team to Dakabin to explain how construction impacts will be managed to ensure minimal inconvenience for passengers.

I’m really looking forward to the completion of the works, when we will get to benefit from— more car parks, a new footbridge with lifts, new bus infrastructure, raising platform sections to provide easier access to the trains, features such as hearing aid loops, and upgraded lighting and CCTV.